Journal bearing



, June 27, 1939 l G. R. COLEMAN 2,163,586

.JOURNAL BEARING Filed Oct. 19, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l ill" AT TORNEY- l j l June 27, 1939. G. R. COLEMAN 2,163,585

JOURNAL BEARING Filed Oct. 19, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 In. wml f2 |||l I l M1/9% MQWM Patented June 27, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates in general to improvements in bearings and, while it has more particular reference to journal bearings used on railway rolling stock, it will be apparent that certain 5 features of the invention have other and more general applications.

A principal object of the invention is the provision of improved means for automatically cooling a journal bearing in the most effective manner.

As is pointed out more specifically in my copending application for U. S. Letters Patent, Serial No. 67,063, filed March 4, 1936, that portion of a journal bearing which is most affected l by the heat generated during the operation thereof is the bonded surface between the main body portion and the lining secured thereto. To insure effective cooling of this bonded surface, the above-mentioned application provides separate conduits extending through the bearing adjacent said surface which serve as passageways for the automatic circulation of lubricating oil through the bearing from the inbound to the outbound side of the journal. These conduits are constructed of a material which is impervious to the action of the lubricating oil, and are arranged so that there is substantially no possibility of the lubricating oil coming in contact with the bonded surface between the main body portion and the lining. These latter features are employed because the lubricating oil has a deteriorating action on the solder or' other bond employed and will cause the latter to disintegrate with a consequent failure of the bearing.

More specifically, therefore, the object of the instant invention is the provision of an oil cooling reservoir in such a bearing adjacent the central or crown portion of said bonded surface, which communicates with said conduits and is so 40 formed as to substantially eliminate the possibility of the lubricating oil coming in contact with the bonded surface.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a novel method of manufacturing and repairing such a journal bearing.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention Will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan View of a journal bearing embodying the features of the invention u with part of the lining broken away to show the conduits mounted in the grooves in the concave surface of the main body portion;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modified form of bearing; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral II indicates the body portion 0f a non-rotary member of a journal bearing, commonly called the brass, which may be of any desired form and is preferably cast from some suitable alloy. The body portion II is provided with a lower concave surface I2 to which is applied a lining I3 of babbitt or other suitable material, which is applied in the usual manner to the surface I 2 after it has been tinned or soldered so that it will adhere firmly thereto.

Formed in the lower surface I2 of the main body portion II, by machining or by being cast therein, are a plurality of transverse grooves or channels I4 interconnecting at their central portions with a longitudinal channel or groove I5. Any desired number of these grooves I4 may be provided and they are preferably spaced in parallel relationship to each other and extend oompletely across the lower surface I2. The grooves I4 and I5 are preferably substantially semi-circular in cross-section, with the central longitudinal groove I5 of somewhat larger diameter than the transverse grooves I4.

In the form of journal shown in Figures 1 and 2, a unitary assemblage of interconnecting closed tubular members, indicated generally by reference numeral I6, is positioned within the grooves I4 and I5. This assemblage I6 preferably comprises a central tube I'I which is positioned within the longitudinal groove I5, and a plurality of laterally extending curved tubes IB formed integrally with and communicating withl the central tube I'i and adapted to be'. positioned within the transverse grooves I4. As shown in Figure 1, the transverse tubes I8 are disposed within lalternate grooves I4 on opposite sides of the central tube I1. While this arrangement is preferred, any other suitable one may be employed that is desired. The tubular assemblage I6 is preferably formed of metal tubing, such as copper, although any other suitable material, which isimpervious to the action of the oil used for lubricating the bearing, and shape may be employed. The outer ends of the tubes I'I and I8 are closed.

The tubular assemblage I 6 may be positioned in the grooves I4 and I5 either before or after the istv lil

surface I2 is tinned. The lining I3 is then molded or otherwise secured to the main body portion II to maintain the tubular assemblage I6 in place. Those portions of the grooves I4 which are not lled by the tubes I8 will function as additional retaining means for the lining, since the latter will ll any such portions of the grooves, as will be seen particularly in Figure 2.

The lower surface of the lining I3 is formed to substantially conform to the upper portion of the usual journal I9 v(shown in broken lines in Figures 2 and 4) in a well known manner.

A pair of longitudinally extending grooves or channels 2I are machined or molded in this lower surface of the lining I3, and terminate short of the ends of the lining as best seen in Figure 1,`

inner surface, the deepest portion of which is atthe upper part of the channel while the lower part of the channels terminates at a point which is spaced a short distance away from the outer surface of the journal I9. The particular shape of these channels 2| and their function are more specifically described in my co-pending application above referred to. An aperture or bore 22 communicates between the upper portion of each groove or channel 2l and each of the tubes I S. These bores 22 are preferably drilled through the lining I3 and into the conduits or tubes IB as a nal step in the manufacture of the bearing.

The modified form of bearing shown in Figures 3 and 4: is identical to that above described, with the exception of the particular type of conduits employed. In this modification, transverse tubes 23 are used which are similar to the tubes I3. Instead of the central longitudinal tube Il, however, .a longitudinally disposed plate member 24 is employed. The tubes 23 are positioned in the grooves I4 with their centrally disposed ends, which are open, termina-ting within the central groove I5. The plate 24 is shaped to conform to the contour of the curved surface I2 and is placed so as to completely cover the central groove I5 and the open ends of the transverse tubes or conduits 23, The tubes 23 and the plate 24 may be secured together in any suitable manner if desired to form a unitary assemblage somewhat similar to the tubular assemblage I5. However, the members 23 and 24 may be separately placed in their positions in the grooves I4 and over the groove I5, respecn tively. As in the case of the assemblage I6, these parts may be so positioned either before or after the surface I2 is tinned. The lining I3 is then molded or otherwise secured to the body portion II to maintain the members 23 and 24 in place. In this modification the bores 22 communicate with the tubes 23 in the same manner as with the tubes I8.

In this type of journal bearing, lubricating' oil is supplied to the outer surface of the journal I9 in the usual manner by means of saturated waste disposed within the journal box (not shown) and contacting the lower surface of the journal, although any other means of supplying a lubricant may be employed if desired.

In the operation of the bearing, rotation ofthe the tubes or conduits I8 0r 23, and thence intol The oil will 1 beA the central longitudinal reservoir provided by the tube I'I in the one modification andthe groove I5 and plate 24 in the other modification. From these central cooling reservoirs the oil will flow through the opposite tubes or conduits I8 or 23 into the channel 2I at the outbound side of the journal .and be carried by the latter doWnwardly to the waste referred to.

This circulating action of the lubricating oil will effectively cool the bearing while assuring uniform distribution of the oil. The provision of the centrally disposed longitudinal cooling reservoir in the bearing materially adds to this cooling effect in an obvious manner, and results in a certain amount of the oil being retained therein when the journal is not in operation.

The above described. arrangement of the tubular assemblage I6 and the members 23 and 24 is such that there is substantially no possibility 'of the lubricating oil coming in contact with the bonded surface I2 between the main body portion Il and the lining I3. In this manner the deteriorating action of the lubricating oil on the solder or other bond employed is effectively prevented. rIhe provision of the centrally disposed longitudinal reservoir in the bearing adjacent the bonded surface I2 results in a very much more satisfactory and effective cooling of the bearing than is accomplished by the arrangement of the transverse conduits alone shown in my co-pending application above referred to.

In the relining of the bearing, the removal of the lining I3 by use of heat or the like will remove the members I6 or 23 and 24 from the main body portion II. The addition of a new lining to the body portion will therefore be a relatively simple matter, and as is the case in the initial manufacture, the problem of keeping the lining metal from clogging the conduits will not be presented.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in they form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material.

member, a lining cast on said concave surfaceV and securely attached to said body, whereby said lining maintains said conduits and plate member in position, a longitudinal channel vin each side of said lining, and apertures extending through said lining and connecting said conduits and said channels.

2. A journal bearing, comprising a body portion having a concave surface, a lining cast on said concave surface and having an exposed bearing surface and securely attached to said portion, a longitudinally extending reservoir disposed within said bearing adjacent'the surface,

between said body portion and said linin'g,' 'a

pair of longitudinally extending channels in said' cxposed bearing surface, and a plurality of passageways interconnecting each of said channels with said reservoir, said passageways each cornprising a separate conduit disposed adjacent the surface between said body portion and said lining and maintained in position by the lining.

3. A journal bearing, comprising a brass having a concave surface, a plurality of transversely extending grooves in said surface, a longitudinally extending groove in said surface adjacent the center thereof, a tube in each of said grooves, said transversely extending tubes each communicating with said longitudinally extending tube, a lining cast on said concave surface and securelyattached to said brass, whereby said lining maintains said tubes in position and lis the portions of the grooves around the tubes to increase the mechanical strength of the bond between the lining and the brass, a longitudinal channel in each side of said lining, and apertures extending through said lining and connecting said transversely extending tubes and said channels.

4. A journal bearing of the type where lubricating oil is carried upwardly by the surface of the journal to the bearing, comprising a brass having a bonded concave surface with a plurality of transversely extending grooves and a longitudinally extending groove therein, a tube disposed in each of said grooves made of a material which is impervious to any deteriorating action of the oil, said transversely extending tubes communicating with said longitudinally extending tube, a lining cast on said bonded surface and thus securely attached to said brass to retain said tubes in place, a longitudinally extending channel in each side of the bearing surface of said lining, and apertures extending through said lining and said transversely extending tubes to interconnect said tubes and said channels, whereby rotation of said journal will cause oil to flow through said bearing adjacent said bonded surface to cool the latter and to maintain a supply of oil in said longitudinally extending tube, while contact of the oil with said bonded surface will be substantially eliminated.

5. A journal bearing of the type where lubricating oil is carried upwardly by the surface of the journal to the bearing, comprising a brass having a soldered concave surface with a plurality of transversely extending grooves and a longitudinally extending groove therein, a unit comprising a plurality of copper tubes disposed in said transversely extending grooves and a copper tube communicating therewith and disposed in said longitudinally extending groove, a bearing metal lining cast on said soldered surface and thus securely attached to said brass to retain said tube unit in place, a longitudinally extending, oil-collecting channel in each side of the bearing surface of said lining, and apertures extending through said lining and said transverse tubes to interconnect said tube unit and said channels, whereby rotation of said journal will cause oil to ilow through said tubes adjacent said soldered surface to cool the latter and to maintain a supply of oil in said longitudinal tube, while contact of the oil with said soldered surface will be substantially entirely eliminated.

GILBERT R. COLEMAN. 

